Ironing device for industrial ironing of jackets

ABSTRACT

A device for ironing garments, such as jackets, overcoats and the like at the body or flank portions thereof. The device comprises two forms, shaped in the configuration of a halfmanikin, disposed on a carriage, which travels over two fixed and parallel slides. Each of the ends of the slides is mounted on a fixed framework which is provided with three heads, one of which is centrally located on a vertical axis and the other two heads being located on opposite sides of said vertical axis and having axes oblique with respect thereto. Each head comprises a plate driven by a pneumatic cylinder the lower surface of which is so shaped as to conform exactly to the outer surface of each of the two forms when the forms are disposed underneath such heads.

llnited States atent [1 1 Cartabbia [4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 IRONING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL IRONING OF JACKETS Giovanni Cartabbia, Via Predore l0, 24067 Sarnico, Italy [22] Filed: July 22, 1974 [2]] Appl. No: 490,298

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 3, 1973 Italy 27528/73 [52] US. Cl. 38/21; 223/57; 223/70; 38/22 [51] Int. Cl. D06F 71/00; D06C 15/00 [58] Field of Search.. 38/2, 5, 14-17, 38/21-25; 223/51, 52,70, 66, 67, 57

Beks 38/5 Engelbart 38/22 Primary Examiner-Geo V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or F irm-MichaelS. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A device for ironing garments, such as jackets, overcoats and the like at the body or flank portions thereof. The device comprises two forms, shaped in the configuration of a half-manikin, disposed on a carriage, which travels over two fixed and parallel slides. Each of the ends of the slides is mounted on a fixed framework which is provided with three heads, one of which is centrally located on a vertical axis and the other two heads being located on opposite sides of said vertical axis and having axes oblique with respect thereto. Each head comprises a plate driven by a pneumatic cylinder the lower surface of which is so shaped as to conform exactly to the outer surface of each of the two forms when the forms are disposed underneath such heads.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 2 I975 SHEET 1. UP Q @w 7 Wm mw WW IRONING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL llRUNlNG ()F JACKETS This invention relates to an ironing device which is adapted to ensure a fast ironing of garments. such as overcoats. jackets and the like and to the related ironing process.

As well known. in the garment-making industry. it is necessary to carry out a final ironing operation of the various completed garments. Amongst such garments jackets and overcoats are especially difficult to iron due to the particular shape of the garment involved.

As a matter of fact, the ironing of such clothing pieces requires subsequent ironing operations at the shoulders and sleeves of the overcoats and jackets.

These operations. besides being lengthy, require highly skilled labor which. in turn. adds to the cost of the finished product. It is the object of this invention to provide an ironing device being so structurally built as to simplify the ironing process ofjackets and overcoats at their body flank portions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ironing device which performs multiple ironing operations, and which operates in a quick sequence on the two halves of the body of a jacket or an overcoat. These and further objects which will become apparent from the following detailed description are attained by arranging an ironing unit. comprising essentially three stations. along which two half-manikins (half of a tailors modeling form) may slide with reciprocating motion. The two half-manikins which are positioned to have a mirrorlikc symmetry are disposed in a horizontal position on a carriage which is. in turn. mounted on cooperating slides.

The first work station where the operator stands for the initial mounting of the garments on one of the manikins is located intermediate the other two workstations. At the second and third work stations there are placed three plates having shaped surfaces which by moving towards the upper and the side portions of the half-manikin. respectively, perform the ironing of the two half portions of the jacket or the overcoat.

Specifically. on each of the half-manikins there is initially disposed and ironed the half-portion a jacket or overcoat.

The same jacket or overcoat is then turned inside out and fitted over the other half-manikin which has been displaced. in the meantime, at the central first work station of the ironing device according to this invention. There upon. the halt manikins resume their original po' sitions. thereby being made available for the ironing of another jacket or overcoat.

The ironing device 'of this invention is further provided with heating and steam conduits. adapted to improve the ironing capabilities of the various plates, and suction means mounted above the two operating second and third work stations so as to avoid troublesome steam condensation during the ironing phase of the jacket or the overcoat.

These and further characteristic features of a functional and a constructional nature of the ironing device according to the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the various figures on the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. I shows a schematic front view ofthe upper operating portion of the ironing device of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the present invention at one point in the ironing operation;

FIG. 3 represents a top view of the horizontal working surface with which the present ironing device is provided; and

FIG. 4 shows in schematic form the heating and steam circuits with which the present ironing device is fitted.

Referring now particularly to the numerals given in the varous figures on the accompanying drawings. the ironing device for ironing jackets or overcoats according to this invention is made up of a frame 1 of rectangular cross section. longitudinally of which. there are mounted two fixed parallel slides 2.

Along said slides travels a carriage 3, mechanically coupled with the slides by means of bearing bushes or guides 4.

On the carriage 3, there is mounted above the heating plates 5, two model forms 6 and 6, showing essentially the structure of half-manikins.

The forms 6 and 6' are each connected to a conduit 7 in which steam circulates so as to permit the humidification of the fabric of the jacket or the overcoat to be ironed.

The steam conduit 7 includes two ducts each con nected to a vaporizing valve 8.. Each valve 8 is mounted on a first chest or container which is supplied with steam via a duct 10.

The same forms 6 and 6' are alternatively heated in successive sequence with steam by being conveyed directly from the first container 9 through the duct 11. The steam exhaust is discharged through the duct 12.

The forms 6 and 6' are further connected to a (not shown) suction circuit which dries and dehumidifies the garment fabric during the ironing phase.

As mentioned above. the carriage 3 is movable and the movement is imparted thereto by a pneumatic piston 13. The pistion 13 transfers the two forms 6 and 6' alternatively in a reciprocating manner from one end to the other end of the slides 2, so that each form 6, 6' may register with the second and third operating work stations provided at the respective ends of the slides.

At the two ends of the slides. there is mounted a stationary support or frame work 14 which is intergrally connected the frame 1.

Each of the two frameworks 14 is respectively provided with three heads l5, l5 and 15" one of which 15) is centrally positioned intermediate the other two heads. Each head includes a pneumatic cylinder l6, l6 and 16'. respectively which is operative to control the movement of the respective shaped surfaces l7, l7 and 17''.

The lower face of each surface is shaped so as to exactly conform to the outer surface of the forms 6 or 6'. Each shaped surface is connected by means of spacer bolts 18 to the plates 19 and maintain the surfaces 17 at a predetermined distance so that the surfaces will not wobble or become inclined as a result of the movement of the pneumatic cylinder 16.

The movement of the surfaces 19 is guided by pairs of roller bearings 20 which are constrained inside cooperating sliding guides 21.

The aforementioned operating heads l5, l5 and [5" are mounted on each framework 14. Operating head is is located vertically above the forms 6, 6; whereas the other two heads l5. l5" are located on opposite sides of head 15. The axes of heads l5. 15" are oblique to the vertical axis of head and form equal opposite angles with respect thereto.

The compression operation of the shaped ironing surface 17 on the forms 6 and 6' is exerted in an alternated manner as compared with the surfaces 17', 17". As a first step, the surface 17 is directed along a vertical axis, and as the second step the surfaces 17 and 17" are directed together along their individual oblique eonverging axes.

It should be stressed here that the edges of the iron ing surfaces 17, 17' and 17 overlap each other and exert a pressing action on the same fabric. The surfaces l7, l7 and 17" are suitably curved in order not to determine sharp boundary lines on the respective compression zones.

In practice, the portions of the garment which are arranged between the edges of surfaces l7 aand l7 and between the edges of surfaces 17 and 17" are ironed two times because of the above described alternate operation of the surface 17 and the surfaces 17 and 17". This superposition of the same portion of the jacket or overcoat assures that no undesired lines of ironing will be present.

The same ironing surfaces l7, l7 and 17" are adapted to exert a humidifying action on the portions of the jacket or overcoat to be ironed through steam conduits 22 which are connected to a plurality of nor mally closed steam valves 23 which are mounted on a second chest or container (see FIG. 4) to individually control the amount of steam directed to each surface.

The second container 24 is supplied with steam by means of a duct 25 and alternatively conveys the steam successively to the ironing surfaces 17, 17, 17" via a duct 26.

Above the ironing surfaces 17, 17 and 17 there is mounted a suction line 27 which is adapted to prevent steam condensation during the fabric humidification phase.

The suction line 27 is heated by means of a conduit 28 superimposed thereon in which hot steam is con tained so that the steam, outflowing from the ironing surfaces before being conveyed to the exhaust 29 will be sucked from the garment.

By this arrangement, there is avoided the possibility of dripping by condensation from the suction line 27.

The ironing process for ironing the body or flank portions of a jacket or overcoat is as follows: On the halfmanikin 6 located at the central work station of the ironing device of this invention, there is disposed the corresponding half of a jacket. By displacing the carriage 3 to the left of FIG. 1, the form 6 is set underneath the shaped surfaces l7, l7 and, 17" of the framework 14 disposed at the left-hand end of the slides 2 (referring to FIG. 1).

By initially lowering the shaped surface 17 and, subsequently, after raising the same, the two side surfaces 17 and 17'' are thereupon lowered. There is thus obtained the ironing of a half-portion of the jacket or overcoat at this point.

After raising the two shaped surfaces 17 and 17" the overcoat or jacket is slipped off the form 6 and placed with its not yet ironed half-portion over the halfmanikin 6 which is now positioned at the central workstation of the ironing device according to the present invention.

The carriage 3 is moved to the right (referring to FIG. 1) so that the half-manikin 6' is registered underneath the shaped surfaces l7, l7 and 17" of the framework 14 which is situated at the right-hand end of the slides 2.

By lowering in the afore-mentioned succession sequence, the respective shaped surfaces, the ironing of the second half-portion of the jacket or overcoat is completed.

Thereupon the carriage 3 is again moved to the left after fitting another jacket or overcoat to be ironed over the half-manikin 6.

The ironing device of this invention may further comprise one or more support means which is adapted to support a plurality of dress-hangers for hanging the overcoats and jackets to be ironed or already ironed.

From the foregoing description and illustration of the various figures on the accompanying drawing, one may see the functional character and practical application characterizing the ironing device for ironing overcoats and jackets according to the present invention. The ironing device has been described and represented by way of a non-limiting embodiment example.

Therefore, several changes and modifications as to shape, construction and dimension could be introduced therein without departing from the scope of this invention.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for ironing garments, particularly jackets, overcoats, and the like, comprising a frame having parallel sliding guides; a carriage movably mounted on said sliding guides; a pair of model forms shaped as half-manikins and being mirror-symmetrically disposed on said carriage, said forms each having an upper surface portion and side surface portions serving as pressing tables for the rear and front portions of a garment, respectively; a plurality of work stations, one of said stations serving for mounting a garment to be pressed and the others of said stations serving as pressing stations; means for reciprocally moving said carriage between a plurality of positions in each of which one of said forms is registered at one of said pressing stations and the other of said forms is registered at said mounting station; a plurality of pressing heads at each pressing station and having contoured surface plates conforming to said surface portions of the respectively registered form, a first one of said surface plates bcing located above the respective upper surface portion of said registered form on a vertical axis, and a second and a third one of said surface plates being located on opposite sides of said vertical axis on axes oblique with respect thereto, whereby being opposite the respective side surface portions of said registered form; and means for moving said contoured surface plates towards said respectively registered forms, the mirror-symmetrical disposition of said half-manikin forms assuring affirmative and accurate pressing of the front and rear portions of a garment at the respective pressing stations.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carriage further comprises a pair of bearing guides each cooperating with said sliding guides to permit the carriage to be moved along the latter.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a pair of heating plates each located intermediate said carriage and said forms so as to heat said forms.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a steam conduit system connected with each of said forms for steaming the fabric of the garment and for facilitating pressing: and further comprising a suction conduit system for drying the steamed garment.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4. wherein said steam and suction conduits comprise a steam duct and a suction duct, respectively, said suction duct being heated by said steam duct so that water condensation is prevented.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said pressing heads further comprises a pneumatic drive roller bearings. guides, and spacer bolts fixedly connected to said contoured surface plates while the latter are being guided by said 6 drive within said guides.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said contoured surface plates have curved edge portions.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for moving said contoured surface plates is operative to alternately move said first surface plates with respect to said second and third surface plates so that said edge portions of said plates will be free from interference with each other during pressing of the garment. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1., wherein said half-manikin forms closely approximate the shape of a human being by being substantially formed in the shape of a modelling dummy. 

1. An apparatus for ironing garments, particularly jackets, overcoats, and the like, comprising a frame having parallel sliding guides; a carriage movably mounted on said sliding guides; a pair of model forms shaped as half-manikins and being mirror-symmetrically disposed on said carriage, said forms each having an upper surface portion and side surface portions serving as pressing tables for the rear and front portions of a garment, respectively; a plurality of work stations, one of said stations serving for mounting a garment to be pressed and the others of said stations serving as pressing stations; means for reciprocally moving said carriage between a plurality of positions in each of which one of said forms is registered at one of said pressing stations and the other of said forms is registered at said mounting station; a plurality of pressing heads at each pressing station and having contoured surface plates conforming to said surface portions of the respectively registered form, a first one of said surface plates being located above the respective upper surface portion of said registered form on a vertical axis, and a second and a third one of said surface plates being located on opposite sides of said vertical axis on axes oblique with respect thereto, whereby being opposite the respective side surface portions of said registered form; and means for moving said contoured surface plates towards said respectively registered forms, the mirror-symmetrical disposition of said half-manikin forms assuring affirmative and accurate pressing of the front and rear portions of a garment at the respective pressing stations.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carriage further comprises a pair of bearing guides each cooperating with said sliding guides to permit the carriage to be moved along the latter.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a pair of heating plates each located intermediate said carriage and said forms so as to heat said forms.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a steam conduit system connected with each of said forms for steaming the fabric of the garment and for facilitating pressing; and further comprising a suction conduit system for drying the steamed garment.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said steam and suction conduits comprise a steam duct and a suction duct, respectively, said suction duct being heated by said steam duct so that water condensation is prevented.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said pressing heads further comprises a pneumatic drive, roller bearings, guides, and spacer bolts fixedly connected to said contoured surface plates while the latter are being guided by said drive within said guides.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said contoured surface plates have curved edge portions.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for moving said contoured surface plates is operative to alternately move said first surface plates with respect to said second and third surface plates so that said edge portions of said plates will be free from interference with each other during pressing of the garment.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said half-manikin forms closely approximate the shape of a human being by being substantially formed in the shape of a modelling dummy. 